Envelope sealing and stamping machine



lgssma'lsl Oct. 6,19'25 G. E. TIFF-r ENVELOPE SEALING AND STAMPI'JG MACHINE original Filed sept. zo. 1920 s sheetssheet 1 gvwantoz @Wwwwmzw ENVELOPPE SELLING AND STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 20. 1920 8 SheetsfSheet 2 w" m Q I SQVILM G. E. TIFFT ENVELPE sEALING AND STAMPING uAcHINn origina Filed sept..2o. T19354 l a sheets-She 5 @muto/c w 'G75 ma cnn-6,1925. I

G. E. TIFFT ENVELOPE SEALING ND STAMPING MACHINE 8 Shets-Sheet 4.

Original Filed Sept. 20. 1920 Gay E. 772905 WMM,

G. E. TIFFT E NVELOPE SEAL'ING AND STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 20. 1920 8 Sheets-She'f 5 lnvantoz Oct. 6,

G. E. TIFFT ENVELOPE SEALING AAND STAIIPING MACHINE y 8 Sheets-Shet' 6 Original Filed Sept. 20. 1920 NTMMMP Oct. 6, 1925.

G. E. 4TIPI-'1' ENVELOPE SEAIING AND STAMPING MACHINE original Filed sept. 2'0. 192o 8 Sheets-Shet' 1 G. E. TIFFT ENVELOPE SEALING AND STAMIPING -l-IAGHIE s sheets-sneu' a Original Filed sept'. 2o, 1920 Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

GUY E. TIFFT, or hmmm, MICHIGAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

AssIGNon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER CGMPANY, QF STANFORD, CONNECTICU'IL'A. COB'- xona'rIoN or DELAWARE.

ENvELoPE SELLING 'AND vS'I'AJIIINcf IEAGEEINE.-

application mea september zo, Iseo, sena1N0."41i,4e5. Renewed umn s, 192s.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY E. TIEFT, `a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain.

through which the stamp feediligl mechanism Y new and useful Improvements in Envelope Sealing and Stamping Machines, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automatic en.

velope sealing and stamping machines and more particularly to machines designed to effect the sealingI and stamping of an envelope without', lnterrupting the travel of the envelope through the machine.

The invention consists lin the various structural features and arrangement of parts hereafter fully set forth and illustrated in the'accompanying drawings; wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section4 of the improved sealing and stamping machine, the casing of the stamp feeding mechanism being omitted.

Figure la is a section taken on line laf-1 ofFigurel;

Figure 2 is a front View of the machine; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view the section being taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 3*'is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of Figure 3 drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a rear view of the machine with the rear cover member removed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view ofV the envelope feed plate, showing also the end ortion. of the machine to which said plate 1s attached; Y Y Figure 6 is a cross'section View, the section being taken 0n line 6-6 of Figure 1';

Figure f7 is a detail perspective view of a l trip mechanism which-is actuable by thev envelope in its travel through the machine and which controls the stamp feed mechanism;

Figure 8 1s a perspective view of the stamp feed mechanism;

^ Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, perspecl tive detail views' of two members forming a guide member\through which a Astrip of stamps is adapted to be fed; ,-f s

*Figure 11 is `a perspective view'f'ofjtlie carriage for actuating travel of the stamp strlp, showing the bracket, which mounts said carriage, but omitting the guide mem- -ber through which the stamp strip feeds;

Figure 12 is a detail `view of the clutch is actuable; e

Figure 13 is a detail plan view of the ends of a series of spring fingers showing the staggered relation of said ends;

Figure 14 is an enlarged view in vation and partial section of the stamp feeding mechanism, showing the carriage ad- 1vanced in full lines vand retracted in dash mes.

designates the base of. the machine, preferably a casting, and 2 and 3, respectively, designate the side casing members of the machine, the same being preferably formed of heavy sheet metal and rigidly secured to the base in any suitable manner. As will resently be described in detail, the envelope eed rollers and other main elements-of the mechanism are supported by and arranged between the side plates 2 and 3, while the drive mechanism for said rollers and other elements is primarily mounted adjacent the In these views. the reference character 1 side eletremities of the machine, there are provided in suitably spaced relation two pairs of envelope feed rollers 11 and 12', mounted respectively upon `shafts'lll and 14. All of vthe shafts 7, 9, 10,13 and -14 are journale'd at their extremities respectively in the plates 2 and 3, .with the exception of the uppermost shaft 13.

The initial feed rollers 6 have their top portions projecting through an aperture 15 1n a. feed table I6, which 'is detachably 'secured in any suitable manner to the plates 2 fand Y3, and upon said upper projectmg'porthe envelopes,

tions of said rollers there bears a sheet metal guide finger 17 which is intermediately pivoted at 18 upon a bracket 19 carried by the'plate 3 (see Figures 3 and 5). A coiled,

spring 20 is compressed between the upper end of said guide finger and the bracket supporting the same to maintain a pressure of said finger upon the rollers 6 and the ten sion of said spring is regulable by an adjusting nut 21. A rubber lbrush member 22 is suitably secured to the guide finger 17 and `projects into close proximity to the rollers 6 bridging the space interval between said rollers. Adjacent one edge ofthe-table 16 there is secured to said table an upstanding flange 23, the upper edge of which is gradually inclined downwardly toward the aperture 15, said flange forming a guide for the fiaps of the envelopes, as the same are fed to the rollers 6. 24 indicates a vertical guide plate for the closed bottom edges of said plate being'provided with a supporting foot 25 resting upon the table 16 and being'further supported by a rod 26 which telescopes within a sleeve 27 secured to the bracket 19. By inserting said rod more or less within the sleeve 27; the guide plate 24 may be adjusted in various spaced relations tothe guide fiange 23 so as to adapt envelopes ofvarious widths to be fed into the machine. A set screw 28 is mounted upon the sleeve 27 and is adapted to be tightened against the rod 26 to maintain any desired position of adjustment of the.

guide plate 24. Upon the latter plate there is carried a horizontal pin 29 which projects transversely above the table 16 and is adapted to form a support for the rear portions of the envelopes, (indicated at 29a in Figure 4) as the latter are fed to the rollers 6, so as to incline said envelopes downwardly toward the rollers. Pin 29 is adjustable longitudinally of the plate 24 in a slot 30 of said plate and may be held adjusted at any desired point in said slot by a clamping nut 31. For shorter lengths of envelopes it is desirable toadvance said pin toward the feed rollers 6, while in feeding comparatively longy envelopes said pin is adjusted remote from the feed rollers in said slot.

All of the described feed rollers are manually actuable in common by a crank 32 which is mounted upon the shaft 14 of the lower roller 12 outside of the plate 2. From said shaft, the shaft 13 of the upper roller 11 is driven by a chain 33, within' the chamber 5, (see Fig. 4) which also drives a stub countershaft 34. From the latter shaft a chain 35 transmits the drive to the shaft 7 ofthe initial feed rollers. Another chain 36 driven by said lower shaft 14 transmits a drive to the upper shaft 14 and also to the shafts 9 and 10 of the final feed rollers. All cf the described mechanisms which are best ustrated in Figure 4, are located in the chamber 5, formed between the detachable cover member 4 and the lside plate 3.

The envelopes, after being successively fed envelope, as the latter is fed into engagement with the rolls 11, comes into Contact with the under face of said disc at the raised side of the latter.

In order to effect this result, the edge 39 of the table 16, over which edge the flap 0f the envelope hangs as the envelope advances past the rollers 6, is arranged in a substantially tangential relation to the upper edge of the flap moistening disc 37. j The stub shaft 38 of said disc is mounted in a bracket 40 which depends from'a sheet metal arm 41 secured to the side plate 2 and projecting inwardly therefrom above the disc 37 said arm also providinga journal for the inner end of the lower shaft 13. Said stub shaft is adapted to be driven through a pair of beveled gears 42 from a shaft 43 arranged beneath the feed rollers 11. Sa-id shaft and also the shaft 13 of the lower roller 1 1 are driven in common by a chain 43l directly from the lowermost shaft 14, this chain being arranged preferably close adjacent the inner face of the side plate 2. To insure a firm and positive engagement of the gummer surface of the envelope fiap with the moist under face of the disc 37, a plurality of spring plate 3 and arranged to bear terminally upon the under face of said disc at the point where the envelope flap passes beneath the disc. The tank 39 preferably is detachably mounted within a correspondingly shaped opening 45 formed in the base 1 and nor" mally is retained in said opening by a U- shaped wire support 46, the connecting portion 46a of said wire being engageable with a lateral face of the base. It is necessary to maintain the envelope-engaging upper portion of the disc 37 only slightly moist to fingers 44 are mounted upon the side sufficiently soften the adhesive upon the flap of the envelope, and consequently it is desirable to prevent the water in the vessel 39. rising too freely upon the flap-engaging under face of said disc. This object is attained by engaging said face of the disc at a point just above the liquidlevell in said vessel by a brush 47 formed of rubber or other suitable flexible material (see Figure la) said brush being pivoted upon a bracket 48 rising from the base 1 and being acted upon by an adjusting nut 48a mounted upon a screw 48b for regulating the degree of pressure exerted upon the disc. As there may also vbe a tendency for the liquid'in the vessel 39 to rise upon the upper face of the disc 37 andthere-r by transmit excessive moisture to the envelope flap, a rubber or other flexible brush 49 is arranged to bear upon a peripheral portion of the upper face of said disc just above the liquid level in the vessel 39. As travel of an envelope through the rollers 11 carries the flap thereof beyond thedisc 37, Said flap is engaged by a spirally curved guide strip 50, (best shown in Figure 7) which is interiorly secured to the side plate 3 and tends to gradually defieot the flap upwardly against the body of the envelope, said strip being extended preferably from a point slightly in advance of the spring fingers 44 into close proximity to the final feed rollers.

8 and 8.-v Between the two pairs of inter- `mediate feed rollers 11 and 12'there is extended a table member 51 upon which the venvelopes advance in their travel intermediate-said rollers. While travelling across'the table 51, the envelopes are held down in close proximity to said table by a horizontal guide plate 52 projecting from the side plate 3,`

and. spaced slightly above said table.

Y The forward edge of each envelope, just after passing through the second pair 12, of intermediate feed rollers, engages a trip mechanism controlling the advancing of a strip of stamps, the cutting-off of the end stamp from said strip, and the deliveryof` the severed strip to moistening rolls and sub-- sequently to vrolls for affixing the stamp :to Athe envelopel, Describing now this provision forautomatically stamping the envelopes land referring to Figures 3 and 8, 53 is a bracketmounted upon an upward extension 53a of the side plate 3 said bracket sloping downwardly at a gradual inclination toward the delivery end of the machine 'and being .secured to the extension 53u by' a vertical flange 53". Said bracket forms a support for a guide member through which a` stamp.

strip 55 isthreaded, and furthermore carries I a carriage reciprocatory inthe direction of inclination of the bracket.l Adjacent the higher end of said bracket there is mounted yupon a pin 57 aA reel 58, upon which the stamp strip 55 is rolled, said reel being rovided with a handle 59 to facilitate initial winding ofthe strip thereupon. Said-guide member (see Figures 9 and 10) yis formed of two sheet metal members 60 and 61, .respectively the former resting directly upon the bracket 53 and having one end bent to` form a spring clamping member 62 and engagement beneath the upper end of said bracket,

and having upstanding flanges 63 along its lateraledges, providing a guide way for the strip 55. .Said fianges adjacent the raised end of the guide member are formed respectively with tongues 63a projecting toward each other, which tongues are engageable -by a return-bent spring clamping member 64 formed upon the corresponding end of the member 61. The latter member has the nature of a leaf spring which is extended a considerable distance upon the underlying member 60 between the -flanges'63 of the lat-v i said bracket adjacent the fiange 53".v Saidlugs carry a pin 67 extending transversely above the bracket 53 and spaced sufficiently above the latter to clear the guide members 60 and 61. apertured sheet metal frame 68 which pro jects downwardly toward, the delivery end ofthe machine and which forms a mounting for a plurality of parallel spring fingers 69 Upon said pin is-pivoted an formed of fine' wire, said fingers being fixedly secured to the frame 68 adjacent its pivoted end'and having their other extremities 69a free and downwardly bent adjacent the lower end of said frame and respectively projecting through notches '70 formed insaid end. Both members 60 and 61 of the guide member are formed with large elongated rectangular openings 70a to permit the downturned ends of vsaid fingers 69 to bear upon the stamp strip, for engagement with one of the usual lines of perforations. 70", which separate the respective stamps of said strip when registered with such a line.

A wire spring`709 is coiled upon the pin 67 and exerts a downward. pressure uponthe frame 68 tending to constantly project the bent ends 69n of the fingers 69 into al positive contact with the stamp strip which extends throughl the `guide member -beneath said fingers.V Itl is to be noted that said ends of said wire fingers 69 are slightly staggered out of accurate alignment transverse of the fingers,

as is indicated in Figure 13, soth'atcertain of said ends will engage with certain of the perforations between two stamps of the strip even if for any reason the perforations are so formed as not to permit all of raid ends to engage therewith. Adjacent to its pivotal -end, the frame 68 is integrally formed with a thumb rest 71 which, when.v depressed, serves to raise said frame and the fingers 69 to permit the stamp strip 55 to be moved without interference therewith by the spring fingers., At its lower end, the carriage is provided with a pair of opposed standards 72, projecting upwardly from the plate 65, one adjacentthe outer edge of the 4bracket 53 and the other passlng through the slot 66a.

Said standards form a guideway for a stamp-severing knife 73 which is reciprocatory above the bracket 53 in a direction perpendicular to said bracket and which is normally held raised slightl above the stamp strip by a pair of coiledy springs 74. The standards 7 2 are respectively formed at their upper ends with parallel angular extensions 75 between which is mounted a pin 76 forming a pivotal support for a bell crank comprising a relatively long upwardly projecting arm 77 slotted terminally as indicated at 78, to engage a pin 7 82L projecting from the plate 53% and a short arm 79 projecting toward the knife 73 and carrying a spring pressed sliding dog 80 which is adapted to engage above said knife when the latter is in its raised position and forms a means for actuating the knife downwardly when said bell crank is rocked due to travel of the carriage toward the delivery end of the machine. When the carriage is returned to its normal position, shown in Figure 3, the resultant rocking of the bell crank 77, 79 returns the dog 8O to its normal position above the knife 73, said dog bearing against the knife during its upward movement and yielding against. the pressure-of its spring to permit such movement.

The sheet metal frame 68 carries a pin 81 projecting toward the bracket flange 53b (see Figure 11), which pin is engageable, during the travel of the carriage l toward the delivery end of the machine with a cam strip 82 carried by said flange, said strip acting upon said pin to ygradually swing said frame upwardly about its pivot pin 67 ,so as to eventually disengage the fingers 69 from the stamp strip. The arrangement is such that at the instant said ngers are disengagedfrom said strip the knife 73 severs the strip at` thev line of perforations next -in advance to that line which was engaged by said fingers. In other words, the downturnedextremities 69a of the fingers 69 are.,

spaced from the edge of the knife 73 exactly the width of one stamp of the strip 55, and when said strip is being advanced toward the delivery end of the machine by the carriage 56, the fingers 69 engage the strip at a distance rom'the end thereof equal to two stamps, while the knife 73 upon each engagement with said strip cuts olf the end stamp thereof. Upon the return movement of the carriage it is necessary to prevent engagement of the fingers 69 with the stamp strip so as to avoid corresponding retractive movement ofthe stamp strip. This result .60' is effected by providing a second cam 83 which is pivoted at 84 upon the flange 53b and is spring pressed against the raised end v portion of the strip 82 and which rises and falls as the pin 81 passes thereunder in completing its upward travel along the cam strip 82. During the return movement of the carriage said pin 81 rides upon the ivotal cam strip 83 and is thereby maintained at a suiiicient elevation to permit the wire fingers 69 to fully clear the stamp strip. Just as the carriage'completes its return movement, however, the pin 81 rides `free of the cani strip 83, allowing the sheet metal frame 68 to swing down to its normal position, engaging the wire fingers69 with the stamp strip. When the carriage is inthe described retracted position, which it normally occupies, the down-turned ends 69l of the wire fingers engage the stamp strip slightly to the rear of the second line of perfor-ations b from the end thereof so that upon the next advance movement of the carriage said fingers will engage said line of perforations immediately after such movement has begun. l

It is preferred to utilize the rocking movement of the bell crank 77, 79 to. actuate a counter 85 for registering the ,number of stamps which are severed from the strip 55, this result being accomplished by extending a link 86 from the arm 77 of said bell crank to an arm 87 carried by the counter. Thus, each time the carriage 56 is reciprocated the resultant rocking movement of the bell crank 77, 79 is transmitted through the link 86 to the arm 87 -sQ as to advance the counter one unit.

Actuation of thelcarriage is effected by a pin 88engaging the forward or lower end of said carriage and projecting through an inclined slot 89 inthe extension plate 53?. Adjacent the outer face of said plate said pin is engaged" with one end of a connecting rod 90 which at its other end is provided with a collar 91 freely embracing an eccentric 92 mounted loosely upon the shaft 9 of the upper final feed roller 8. Said eccentric is adapted to be driven through a slotted collar 93 by a clutch member 94 provided with tongues permanently engaging in the slots of the collar 93. The clutch member 94 coacts withl a clutch member 95a formed integrally with a sprocket wheel alsv 96 which is fast upon the shaft 9 and is driven by the chain 36. The two clutch members 94 and 95a are provided with ratchet teeth through which the latter is adapted to drive the former when said teeth are permitted to engage. A coiled spring 97-I spring 101 acts upon said bell crank lever 98 to maintain pressure of, thefinger 100 against said clutch member. The other arm of the bell crank lever is terminally engageable by a trip arm 102 mounted upon one end of a rock shaft 103 and acted upon by a coiled spring 104 to maintain said arm normally raised sufficiently to permit the bell crank to occupy its normal position shown in full lines in Figure 4. Upon a slight rocking movement of the shaft 103 the arm 102 `is caused to exert a downward pressure upon the bell crank 981, rocking the latter suliiciently to disengage its upper end 100 from the pin 100, as shown in dash lines in Figure 4, thus permitting the spring Y 97 to throw the clutch member 94 into driven engagement with the clutch member 95a.

Theshaft 103 has its extremities respectively journaled in the side plates 2 and 3 and at an intermediate point carries a tripping plate 105 projecting rigidly upward. Said plate carries a substantially vertical trip arm 106, the same being mounted upon a pair of swinging links 107, one of which is acted upon bya coil spring 107a to main' the bell crank .lever 98 suticiently to draw the finger 100 clear of the pin 1003. This permits the two clutch members 94 and 95a to engage and thus provides for actuation of the carriage.

Just before' completion of each advance movement of the carriage, and just prior to severing of the terminal stamp from the strip 55, said stamp is engaged between a pair of small feed rollers 108, the lowermost of which is immersed, with the exception of itsupper portion in a small water tank 109. These rollers support and advance said stamp, when severed and the gummed under face of the stamp is thoroughly moistened by contact with the lower roller. From* said rollers the severed and moistened stamp is delivered between a third small roll 110 and the upper final feed roller 8, the latter being formed with a series of annular grooves 110*al which are engaged by annular ribs formed on the small roller 110, the effect of said ribs and said grooves being -to straighten the stamp and to remove the curl caused by rolling the same, So that the stamp' will more readilyv adhere to the envelope during its-passage between the final 'feed rollers. Alarge gear 111 upon the shaft 9V drives a train of comparatively small gears 112 by vwhich the feed rollers V108 and4110 -are driven.

114a to the upper edge of the extension plate 53a and which is adapted to be swung downwardly against said plate to house the stamp reel 58 and the entire stamp feed mechanism, said casing being provided with a large front window 114b through whichthe operation ofthe stamp feed mechanism may be inspected and being further provided with the relatively small top window 114 through which the counter 85 may be read. A suitable lock 114d is carried by the extension plate 53a for engagement with said casing to maintain the same normally in its position of use, shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Since it is at times desirable to seal a quantity of envelopes without stamping the same, a provision is made for adjusting the tripping arm 106 out of its position of use. Thus there is mounted adjacent the rock shaft l103 a smaller 4rock shaft 116 which is likewise journaled in the side plates 2 and 3 and .projects beyond the former to receive a milled actuating head 117. Adjacent the tripping plate 105, an arm 118 is mounted fast yupon the rock shaft.116 and terminally carries a pin 119, which pin upon ,a slight rocking movement of the shaft 116 is engageable with a hooked hanger 120 downwardly projecting` from the triparm 106 for shifting said han er. and trip arm downwardly in opposition to the spring 107a to a position moving said arm from the path of the envelope through the machine. This mechanism may also be used to prevent un-v authorized feedingof the stamps from the -reel 58, and to .this end there vis'provided upon the rock shaft 116 adjacent the side plate 3 an arm 121, beveled to ride over a yieldable detent'122 as the shaft 116 is being rocked to shift the trip arm 106 downwardly. The member 122, after the arm 121 has ridden thereover, projects to prevent retraction of said arm and is thus adapted to hold the trip arm 106 in lowered position. The

locking member 122 is formed byl the bent extremity of a wire arm 123, said extremity projecting through a small aperture 124 in the plate 3. Another portion of the wire forming the-arm 123 functions as a rock shaft 125, the same being vertically mountedv upon the outer face of the plate 3, and being 'acted upon by a sprin 126 tending to project the locking mem er 122 through the aperture 124. The wire forming the rock shaft 125 is offset just above said rock shaft to pass through an opening 127 in the extension plate 53. Adjacent the inner face ofl said extension plate said wire is formed with a handle portion 128 'which lies Within thev casing 114 when `the latter is in its closed position. Thus, when said casing is locked no access may be had to handle member 128 which must be actuated to effect afrocking of the shaft 125 in order to retract thevlocking member 122 out of engagement with the arm 121 so as to permit the trip arm 106 to be raised by its spring 107 into its position for engagement by the envelopes.

In the operation of the described machine a pile of the envelopes to be fed therethrough is rst arranged upon the feed table 16, as is shown in Fig. 4, the flap of each envelope overlapping that of the underlying envelope and the lowermost flap overlapping the guide plate 23. The larger guide plate 24 is adjusted at a distance from the plate 23 substantially equal to the width of said envelopes, and the pin`29 is adjusted in the slot 30 according to the length of said envelopes so as to support their rear ends at a proper elevation. The operator then turns the crank 32, communicating rotation to all of the feed rollers and also the flap moistening disc 37. Owing to the inclination of the pile of envelopes, the bottom one thereof tends to slide between the initial feed rollers 6 and the guide linger 17, an automaticsuccessive delivery of the envelopes to said feed rolls thus being rovided for. The frictional action of the eed rolls 6 upon the bottom surface of any envelope is sufficiently greater than that of the rubber brush 22upon the top surface of the envelope'l to avoid any retardation of the envelopemby saidbrush. In case, however, two or morefenvelopes tend to feed together ast the rolls this will be prevented by the brush 22, the frictional stress exerted by the same u'pon` the super-posed envelo es being sufficient to-hold the same back. he table 16 guides ,ach envelope from the initial rolls 6 tothe first air of intermediate rolls 11, and during th1s travel the edge of the table 16 adjacent the plate 3 guides the flap of the advancing envelope so ,that the same may en age beneath the moisteningy disc 37. Whi e the gummed surface of the? flap is being pressed against the moist underface of said disc by the spring fingers 44, the advance of the envelope is being effected by the rollers 11. After disengagmg from said disc and said fingers the iiap is gradually turned up to 'ap roximately horizontal position by the gui e strip 50. After the front edge of. an advancing envelope has travelled slightly beyond the second air of;

i intermediate feed rollers 12, said e ge encounters the upper extremity of the trip arm 106, assuming that said arm is in its raised position. As the envelo e continues to advance,v said arm is rocke forwardly and downwardly bythe envelope, correspondin ly rock1ng-the trip plate 105 and the sha 103. During this rocking movement the arm 102 on said rock shaft shifts the engaged end of the bell crank lever 98, downwardly and the resultant rocking of said lever moves the inger 100 sufficiently away from the clutch member 94 to clearl the pin 100a, thus permitting ythe spring 97 to engage said clutch member/with the clutch member Upon a very slight further advance of the envelope, after accomplishing the described result, the trip arm 106 assumes such an inclination as to disengage its upper extremity from the forward velope has suiiiciently a vanced to disenl gage its rear edge from said trip arm, the latter. is raised by the spring 107 and is thus ready forengagement by the next advancing envelope. As the clutch member 94 shifts into engagement with the clutch member 95a the pin 100a is carried beneath the finger so that upon release of the lever by the arm 102 there can be no initial interference by the upper end of said lever with rotation of said clutch member. The clutch connection remains closed 'while the eccentric 92 is driven through one complete revolution, being opened upon completion of such movement by a reengagement of the pin 100l with the finger 100, the taper of said finger tending to'defiect said pin and the clutch member 94 away from the clutch member 95a. While the eccentric 92 is making the described revolution, the carriage is being actuated through the connectin rod 90 and the pin-88, being first advance toward the. delivery end of the machine a distance slightly greater than the width of one of the 'stamps of the strip 55 and being then returned to its initial osition. In said position of the carriage t e spring lingers 69 bear upon the stamp strip 55 slightl in back of the second stamp from the endI of the strip. Immediately after each advance of the carriage has begun, therefore, the down-turned ends 69 of said fingers enter into engagement with the second line of perforations 70" from the end of the stamp strip, causing the strip to participate in the forward travel of the carriage. Owing to the restraint exerted lupon the bell crank 77, 79 by engagement of its long arm 77 with the` pin 78", a rocking of said bell crank results from the travel of the carriae the short arm 79 being swung downwar as the carriage advances and acti throu b the dog 80 upon the knife 73 to ower e same. Thus, said knife is caused to sever the end staino from the Strip shortly before .completion of advance movement of the carriage and immediately subsequent toA engagement of said stamp by the two small feed rolls 108. As has heretofore been eX- plained the action of the cam strip 82 upon the pin 81 effects a disengagement of the spring fingers 69 from the stamp strip 55, simultaneously with engagement of said strip by the knife 73. Preferably the cutting edge of said knife inelines slightly to the horizontal so as to slightly prolong the cutting operation and thus afford ample oportunity for disengagement of the spring gers from thestrip during such operation.l The stamp strip does not participate in the return movement of the carriage, since during such movement the pin 81 rides upon the pivotal cam member 83, the spring fingers 69 .being thus held disengaged from 'the stamp strip.. Just prior` to completion of the rearward movement of the carriage said pin 81 rides clear of the cam member 83, permitting the sheet metal frame68 to swing downwardly and to establish the normal position of the spring fingers 69 in engagement with the stamp strip just in back of the second line of perforations from the end of said strip. ,y

The advance of the envelope to the final feed rolls 8 and 8a is so timed with respect to the advance of the severed stamp to said rolls that during' the passage of stamps and envelopes between said rollers the former will be alixed to the latter in the position. As has heretofore been eXp ained, moisteningl of the severed stamps is effected during passage thereof between the small feed. rollsf'108, the lowermost of which 1s partially immersed in -water contained by the tank 109.\` .The final feed rollers 8 and,

8, in addition `to aiixing the ,moistened stamp to the envelope, serve also to press the mqistenedfap into firm contact with the bodyof envelope so as to seal said flap.

`When itis desired to employ the described machine only for sealing envelopes without applying ,any stamps thereto, the operator by means-'of the milled head 117 rocks 'the shaft11`6'in the direction of the arrow (Figure A7) thereby engaging the pin 119 on the arm 118 with the hanger 120 and sufficiently' lowering the trip arm 106 .to remove the same from the path of travel of the envelope through the machine. Said trip arm and rock shaft are held in the described position in opposition tothe spring 107a due toengagement of vthe locking arm 121 with the.

detent or'retainer 122, formed upon the end of the wire arm 123. When Lit is desired to release the arm 121 from the detent 122, the operatorv exerts pressure upon the `extremity ofthe handle 128 thus rocking the wire rock shaft 125 sufficiently to disengage the, detent from said arm.

roper B I guidea4 members 60, 61, the arrangement of a the employment of the, detachable stamp strip in a position to be intermittently advanced by the carriage 56 is greatly facilitated. In applying the strip to the guide-member, after the latter has been de' is ad]u'sted until the second line of perforations from the end thereof lies slightly in advance of the downturned ends 69 of the springy wire fingers 69. The thumb rest 71 on the metal frame 68 permits said wire fingers to be readily raised clear of .thel sta-mp strip while the latter is being adjusted. It is to be noted that in case anyinitial error is made in adjusting the stamp strip relative to the carriage, this will be at once automatically corrected, since the feed fingers can only engage the strip upon a line of perforations thereof and the knife is so spaced from the feed lingers as to necessarily cut upon the line of perforations next in advance of that engaged by said fingers. f

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a work feeding roller, of a cooperating non-rotative Work feeding member, a bracket projecting above said r roller and providing a support for said cooperatingy member, and a guide -member for the work adjustably mounted upon said bracket.,

2. `A stamp strip feeding i mechanism,

comprising a'reciprocatory carriage, a stationary mountingv for .sa1d carriage upon which mounting the stamp strip to be fed is adapted to be extended, means for engaging vthe stamp strip mounted upon said carriage,

a knife mounted upon the carriage for successively severing the'/ stamps from the stamp strip, and mechanism actuable by the advance of the carriage for engaging said knife with the stamp strip during the latter part of said advance.

3. A stamp feeding mechanism, comprise ing a carriage, a stat rmary mounting for said carriage upon which the stamp strip,

to be fed is adapted to be extended, 'means upon the carriage for advancing the stam strip in common with the carriage, a knif mounted upon the carriage for successively severing lthe-stampsfrom said strip, and a bell crank pivoted upon the carriage having one arm adapted to exert a down pressure upon said knife, and the other restrained so as to effect a rocking of the bell'crank when the` carriage is reciprocated.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination with envelope sealing mechanism and stamp feeding mechanism, of a clutch through which said stamp feeding mechanism is adapted to be driven by= the envelope feedingv mechanism, said .clutch being normally thrown out, a trip member arranged in the path of the advancing envelo e and actuable by the envelope to establish a drive to the stamp feeding mechanism through the clutch, and means for holding said trip member adjusted out of the path of the advancing envelope.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with an envelope feeding mechanism and a stamp feeding mechanism, of a clutch normally thrown out, through which the stamp feed mechanism is adapted to be 'driven in common with the envelope feed mechanism, a trip member arranged in the path of the advancing envelope and actuableby the latter to establish a drive to the stamp vfeeding mechanism through the clutch, mechanism'for adjusting said trip member out of the path of the advancing envelope, and -a locking means for said mechanism maintaining the restraining effect thereof upon said tri member.

6. In a device of the c aracter described, the combinationwith an envelope feeding 7mechanism and a stamp feeding mechanism,

-of a clutch throughwhich the latter mechanisni is adapted to'be driven, a casing for enclosing the stampi` feeding mechanism, means for locking said casing,la trip* meinber in the ypath of the'advancing-envelopes.

and actuable by thelatter to establish a drive through said clutch tothe stamp feeding mechanism, saidi member vbeing adjustable out of the path of said envelopes, and

means for'locking said trip member out of the path of vthe venvelopes operable from within said casing. y

7. Ina rdevice of the character described, the combinatio-n with an envelope feeding mechanism and a stamp feeding mechanism, of a clutch, normally thrown out, through which the stamp feeding mechanism is adapted to be driven in common with the envelope feeding mechanism, a spring tending to close said clutch, a lever resisting closing of the clutch, a rock shaft, a trip member mounted upon said rock shaft to actuate the same and extending into .the

path ofthe advancing envelopes'to be respectively actuated thereby, and an arm carried by said rock shaft acting upon said lever to disengage the same from said clutch when said rock shaft is actuated by an adn vancing envelope.

- 8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of side plates, one of which has an extension above the other, of a plurality. of' envelope feeding rollers journaled in said side plates, a stamp feeding mechanism mounted upon said upward extension of one of the side plates, a casing hinged to said extension and adapted in one position to enclose said stamp feeding mechanism, means for locking said casing, and means for moistening the stamps and timing the feed thereof to insure a proper aflixing of said stamp to the envelope in passing 4through certain of said feed' rollers.

9. A stamp strip' feeding mechanism, comprising a reciprocatory carriage, astationary mounting for said carriage upon which mounting the sta-mp strip tobe fed is adapted to extend, means mounted upon.

strip, and mechanism actuable in timed re lation tothe carriage for actuating said'4 ing 'effective response thereof to the enve` lopes. f

11. In a device of the character described,

vthe combination with envelope sealing mechanism and stamp feeding mechanism, of a clutch through which the stamp feeding mechanism is adapted to be driven, said clutch being normally thrown out, trip mechanism actuable bythe advancing envelopes `for establishing a drive to the stamp feeding mechanism through said clutch, and means for establishing a restrained position of the trip mechanism preventing effective response lthereof to the envelopes. t

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GUY E. TIFFT. 

